Speedboat operator fined for incident in which man was disfigured

A speedboat driver has been fined €2,000 after being held responsible for an accident at sea which caused a young man to suffer serious facial injuries.

Magistrate Joe Mifsud had heard how Jonathan Grech, 23, from Nadur was operating a speedboat towing an inflatable “crazy sofa” ride on the 7 July 2012 at Hondoq ir Rummien.

Christopher Vella, together with three others, had been riding the sofa, which had unexpectedly tilted to one side and dumped its passengers into the sea whilst travelling at speed over the water. In the ensuing impact, Vella suffered head and facial injuried – including a broken cheekbone and eye socket.

The court noted that the accused had operated the boat alone, in violation of the regulations which stipulated that the was to be accompanied by another person in the absence of rear-view mirrors.

The court held that the victim's injuries had been a direct consequence of the accused's non-observance of the regulations. Had a second person been on the boat, the driver would have been alerted to the accident immediately or taken measures to avoid it happening.

The court held that Grech was answerable for the charges against him and fined him €2,000.